Your favourite artists?

I joined this group because I'm very interested in music related to the galaxy and everything surrounding it. I see this group is a bit dead though, but don't worry. We will make this place living again, heh.

What are your favourite artists in this subgenre? Just name a few artists you like with a small description for other people to check out!

My suggestions:

Viridian Sun - My favourite project when it comes to space-like Ambient. Very trippy and very dark with lots of variation. Mostly very long songs but it doens't get boring at all. I've only heard 'Solar Noise' so I can't tell you anything about their second album (if somebody has, care to desribe how that one sounds?).

Steve Roach - Also a great Ambient artist who has a lot of releases. I never checked them all but from what I've heard I can only say that I love his music. Recommended stuff!

Darkspace - Probably not an easy band for most people. They create furious Black Metal with lots of spacey synths buried in the mix. Very monotone and long songs so not for everyone I guess. Personally, I love them.

I'd say Arksun(Hidden Logic), although he sometimes creates the most crappy discotracks he can also make the most interresting soundscape like 'Lost Civilisation' en 'One day' He's musically very gifted and his melodies are most of the time somewhere between jazz and trance.

In case of new movies you are right, but some older sci-fi movies had really good, rather athmospheric score, I remember another one: Dune. But it isn't surprising, because Brian Eno also took part in this album, so it has some fine, ambient tracks - and the orchestral parts of it aren't that lame neither.

edited - ok, only one track is composed by Eno. Anyway, give it a try, if you don't know it.

Yeah, eatpeace. I think you're right in saying Mike Oldfield can be space music.

I'll have to check out that Bernard Herrmann soundtrack. One of my favorite sci-fi soundtracks is 'Event Horizon' (Michael Kamen + Orbital). It's not for everyone, but it's got a fun, dark mix of Kamen's orchestration and Orbital's electronic beats and synths. A little repetitive, but I keep coming back to it.

If you can handle electronic/industrial music, Front Line Assembly's 'Implode' CD has tons of samples from sci-fi movies (including Event Horizon). The track, "Synthetic Forms," is one of my favorite sci-fi soundtracks - even though it's not actually a soundtrack to anything.

..And if you can put out a few dollars, there's a GREAT box set of sci-fi anthems and themes from (and inspired by) all sorts of classic sci-fi movies and tv, called "Brain in a Box: The Science Fiction Collection." I highly recommend it, especially if you can find it used. There are some amazing (and sometimes bizarre) tracks in the set.

I've been to TC's SpaceMusic Podcast page a couple of times, but have yet to give it a listen. Probably something I should do now that you've introduced me to some of the artists.

In response to the original question - My favorite artists:

Biosphere - Geir Jenssen's ambient project. The older albums tend to be more electronic (Patashnik), while the newer feel more organic, warmer and more life-like (Substrata).

Delerium (early 90's) - Most people know Delerium in its recent incarnation - new age pop with Enigma-esque elements, generally topped with popular female vocalists. While there's nothing wrong with this (I do like all of Delerium's music), it's the earlier albums like Stone Tower, Spiritual Archives, Spheres & Spheres II, and even Semantic Spaces (though, this album is more pop), that keep me coming back for more. Dark, often empty, floating, sometimes gothic with ceremonial sounding drum layers.. echoing synth textures, choirs, and pads.

Igneous Flame - Deep and alien soundscapes (especially Intox - I had a tough time with that album at first, but now I like it). Most of the music has a "muffled" feeling.. like being immersed in something (not always a comfortable experience). I seem to lose all track of time when I listen to Igneous Flame.

Maitreya - Also a somewhat alien atmosphere (while at the same time emanating a friendly warmth), but pulls you into the experience gently. A bit lighter in tone than Igneous Flame, and definitely more toward the space music genre.

Solar Fields - While not distinctly in the space music category (Blue Moon Station comes the closest), it does carry its essence. Electronic/ambient with some interesting use of sound and textures.

BT - Electronic pop. Master sound mixer. I'm in awe of his obsessive editing techniques (refuses to use MIDI and edits everything by hand). Emotional Technology has held up as my favorite album since its release.

Psychic TV - Such variety from album to album that it would be hard to write much about them. "Experimental" would probably be the best explanation. Their ambient works are what I listen to the most (Kondole being my favorite).

But really... it's impossible for me to select and stick with favorites. There's too much good music! I guess that'll do for now. :)

hey again :-)

Hey, Iron_Storm. Yes! I've been busy downloading Steve Roach, Matthew Florianz, and Mathias Grassow albums from eMusic. There are so many! I'm digging most of what I've had a chance to listen to so far. Thanks for your recommendations!

M83?

Maybe they don't fit here exactly - although their name would totally indicate it - but if you listen to the album Before the Dawn Heals Us, you can feel some kind of space mood, I think it is something like the 70's spacerock, just more electric and eclectic. Give them a try.

oh man! spacerock and psychedelic rock is interresting chapter.. If it sounds like Silver Apples, Pierre Henry, White Sound or something like that, then it will be for sure interresting, thx for tip ;)

Favourite artists

I don't know if anyone will read this or not but here goes. Pink Floyd is still up there for me. Also I like Steve Roach, Global Communication, Lustmord, Drone, Hawkwind, Vidna Obmana, Hapshash and the Coloured Coat, Black Lung, Tangerine Dream.......... ... ;; ;